JP4172335B2 - Automatic accompaniment generator and program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic accompaniment generating device that generates and outputs accompaniment data according to an accompaniment pattern such as an arpeggio (distributed chord), and a program for causing a computer to function as such an automatic accompaniment generating device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, automatic accompaniment generators that generate and output automatic accompaniment data according to previously stored accompaniment patterns are known.
As such an automatic accompaniment generation device, for example, as in the device described in Patent Document 1, many types of accompaniment patterns in which pitch data and timing data corresponding to individual accompaniment sounds are set are stored. Devices that perform automatic accompaniment based on an accompaniment pattern selected by a user are known. In such a device, for example, an accompaniment pattern based on a predetermined chord such as C major is stored as a source pattern, and each sound in the source pattern is stored in accordance with the type of chord input by the user from the keyboard or the like. In addition, the pitch of all the sounds is shifted according to the root of the chord, and accompaniment data having a pitch that matches the chord input by the user is generated. Then, by performing pronunciation based on the accompaniment data, automatic accompaniment according to the user's instruction can be performed.
[0003]
Also, as in the device described in Patent Document 2, an arpeggiator is known as an accompaniment pattern that uses a plurality of key numbers (not a note number corresponding to the pitch, but a simple number) and an arpeggio pattern based on the sounding timing. Devices are also known. In such a device, the key numbers are assigned to the note numbers corresponding to a plurality of keys pressed simultaneously according to a predetermined rule such as the order of the lowest pitches, and the sound generation timing of each key number in the arpeggio pattern By performing sound generation based on the note number corresponding to the key number, automatic accompaniment by an arpeggio according to the user's instruction can be performed. Also in such a device, storing many types of arpeggio patterns and performing automatic accompaniment based on the pattern selected by the user is the same as in the case of the device as in Patent Document 1.
[0004]
By the way, in such an automatic accompaniment device, the automatic accompaniment often forms a phrase, and switching to another accompaniment pattern during the automatic accompaniment with one accompaniment pattern results in an unnatural audibility. There was a problem. The same applies to the case where the automatic accompaniment is terminated halfway. As an apparatus for dealing with such a problem, Patent Document 3 discloses that even when an accompaniment pattern switching is instructed, automatic accompaniment is performed using the pattern before switching until the bar line timing, and the bar line timing is determined. An automatic accompaniment device is disclosed in which the accompaniment pattern is switched. In addition, this document may perform pattern switching immediately after the operation, or determine whether to perform switching immediately or wait until the bar line timing depending on when the switching operation is performed within the bar. Also disclosed.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 3319390 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-22354 A [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-9-6358 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
On the other hand, some accompaniment patterns do not feel uncomfortable at any point in time, others can be switched at a point where the phrase is good, and others should be switched after output to the end of the pattern. , There is a variation in the point at which switching is appropriate. If there is no problem in audibility, it is considered that the automatic accompaniment can be performed according to the user's preference if the switching operation is performed with as little time as possible. Therefore, it is not always preferable to switch bar units. For this reason, in the apparatus as described in Patent Document 3, there is a problem that the solution to the above-mentioned hearing problem is not always sufficient, and the switching operability may be sacrificed more than necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such problems and to enable an automatic accompaniment apparatus to always switch accompaniment patterns with a natural audibility. Another object of the present invention is to minimize the switching operability deterioration for this purpose.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of accompaniment patterns, a reception unit that receives at least an instruction to output an accompaniment pattern and an instruction to switch the automatic accompaniment to be output, and a reception unit thereof In the automatic accompaniment generating apparatus provided with an output means for generating and outputting accompaniment data based on the output instruction received and the accompaniment pattern, switching timing information corresponding to each accompaniment pattern is stored in the storage means means for storing provided, that to the output means, when the reception unit receives an instruction for switching of the automatic accompaniment, to the timing in accordance with the accompaniment pattern corresponding the switching timing information relating to the accompaniment data being output outputs accompaniment data based on the accompaniment pattern, means for then reflect the switch to the generation of the accompaniment data Those digits.
In such an automatic accompaniment generator, it is preferable to provide means for accepting the setting of the switching timing information.
[0008]
Further, the program of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of accompaniment patterns, a reception unit that receives at least an instruction to output an accompaniment pattern and an instruction to switch the automatic accompaniment to be output, and the reception unit includes: A program for functioning as output means for generating and outputting accompaniment data based on an accepted output instruction and the accompaniment pattern, wherein the storage means stores switching timing information corresponding to each accompaniment pattern. A function for storing, and when the receiving means receives an instruction to switch the automatic accompaniment to the output means, up to the timing according to the switching timing information corresponding to the accompaniment pattern related to the accompaniment data being output outputs accompaniment data based on the accompaniment pattern, then the switching to the generation of the accompaniment data It is provided with a function of imaged.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, a configuration of a synthesizer that is an embodiment of the automatic accompaniment generation device of the present invention and is an electronic keyboard instrument will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the synthesizer.
As shown in FIG. 1, this synthesizer includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an external storage device 14, a communication I / F 15, an input operation unit 16, a display unit 17, and a sound source unit 18, which are connected by a system bus 19. ing. A display 22 is connected to the display unit 17, and a sound system 23 is connected to the sound source unit 18, and is connected to the external device 21 via the communication I / F 15.
[0010]
The CPU 11 executes the control program stored in the ROM 12 and the external storage device 14 to control the operation of the synthesizer and use the functions of each unit to store each means (storage means, acceptance). The control unit functions as a means, an output means, and other means.
The ROM 12 is a storage unit that stores various control programs executed by the CPU 11, data that does not need to be updated, and the like. The default accompaniment pattern may be stored here. Data such as accompaniment patterns and songs are stored in the ROM 12 and the external storage device 14 and loaded into the RAM 13 for use.
The RAM 13 is a storage unit that temporarily stores accompaniment patterns, switching timing information about each accompaniment pattern, and the like, or is used as a work memory of the CPU 11.
[0011]
The external storage device 14 is rewritable nonvolatile storage means for storing various application programs, accompaniment patterns, switching timing information for each accompaniment pattern, automatic performance data, and the like.
The communication I / F 15 is an interface for connecting the synthesizer to an external device 21 such as a PC, and includes a MIDI (Musical Instruments Digital Interface) interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, a network interface, and the like. Then, MIDI data, musical score data, remote control commands, etc. can be transmitted / received to / from the external device 21 via this.
[0012]
The input operation unit 16 includes a performance keyboard and various setting switches, and is a unit for the user to operate the synthesizer. With these operators, in addition to various settings and performance operations, it is possible to accept instructions such as the type of automatic accompaniment to be output and its switching, and function as accepting means.
The display unit 17 is configured by a light emitting diode or the like that displays an operation state or a setting state of the synthesizer. Also included is a display control circuit for displaying such information, musical score, message, GUI (graphical user interface), etc. on the display 22 such as a liquid crystal display panel.
The sound source unit 18 is a unit that generates sound signals based on sound generation data such as performances and automatic accompaniment and performance data, and outputs the sound signals to the sound system 23 for sound generation.
[0013]
Next, the automatic accompaniment operation in this synthesizer will be described. Here, an example in which an arpeggio pattern is used as an accompaniment pattern will be described.
First, FIG. 2 shows an outline of accompaniment data generation processing related to automatic accompaniment.
As shown in this figure, the generation of accompaniment data is a process performed by the CPU 11 functioning as an accompaniment data generation unit 50 that is an output means. This generation constitutes the pronunciation pattern data which is the accompaniment pattern stored in the pattern data storage unit 30 of the ROM 12, the switching timing information stored in the switching timing information storage unit 40 of the ROM 12, and the input operation unit 16. Refer to the key press information from the keyboard to be played.
[0014]
Here, a plurality of arpeggio patterns from pattern 1 to pattern N are stored in the pattern data storage unit 30, and the pronunciation content in each arpeggio pattern is defined by the pronunciation pattern data. Then, the pronunciation pattern data related to the pattern selected by the user in the input operation unit 16 is used for generation of accompaniment data in the accompaniment data generation unit 50.
[0015]
Further, the switching timing information storage unit 40 stores switching timing information corresponding to each pattern of the arpeggio as shown in FIG. 3, and in the example shown in FIG. “2 beats” is set. And this provides a switching timing in units of two beats in the sound generation pattern data, and when switching of the arpeggio is instructed at other times, the switching is not reflected in the generation of the accompaniment data until the switching timing, This is information indicating that the accompaniment data generated at the time of the switching timing is changed according to the switching instruction.
That is, for example, when an arpeggio of pattern 1 is selected as shown in the upper part of FIG. 4 and output of accompaniment data is started in response to a key depression, an instruction to change to pattern 2 is received in the middle of the second beat. The pronunciation pattern data to be used is not changed immediately, but when the second beat ends and the switching timing is reached, this is changed to the pronunciation pattern data 2, and output of accompaniment data related to the arpeggio of pattern 2 is started. . Similarly, when an instruction to change to pattern 2 is received in the middle of the third beat, output by pattern 2 is started when the fourth beat ends and the next switching timing arrives.
[0016]
Similarly, for pattern 2, “1 bar” is set as the switching timing information, which indicates that the switching timing is provided at the timing when the bar line comes in the pronunciation pattern data. Although one measure is four beats here, the beat number of one measure may change depending on the time signature of the pattern.
For pattern 3, “anytime” indicating that the arpeggio can be switched at any time is set, and for pattern 4, “last” is set so as not to be switched until the end of the pronunciation pattern data. In addition to these, settings such as n beats and n measures such as different number of beats and measures can be considered, and other setting methods such as direct clock count can be adopted. Further, the switching timings do not have to be arranged at equal intervals, and may be at the end of the first beat and at the end of the fourth beat, for example.
[0017]
Such switching timing information is determined so that the audibility at the time of switching does not become unnatural in consideration of the characteristics of rhythms and phrases expressed by the sound pattern data of each pattern.
In addition, since the user has different requirements on the naturalness of hearing and the speed of switching, and it is preferable that the user himself can select the switching timing for the pronunciation pattern data created by the user, this switching timing information can be freely selected by the user. It should be possible to set. On the other hand, since there is a request that the default data cannot be changed as much as possible, the switching timing information is stored separately from the pronunciation pattern data, and only the switching timing information can be changed. However, there is no problem even if the switching timing information is part of the pronunciation pattern data.
[0018]
Next, FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the pronunciation pattern data and the pronunciation data generated as accompaniment data according to this data and the key depression state.
As shown on the left side of FIG. 5, the sound generation pattern data indicates a timing indicating the output timing of the sound generation data as a clock count, a Gate indicating the sound length in the sound generation data, a key indicating the key number to be sounded, and an octave correction amount of the key. Oct and Vel data indicating the velocity in the pronunciation data are included.
[0019]
When an arpeggio pattern is selected and a key for instructing an output pitch from the arpeggiator is pressed on the keyboard of the input operation unit 16, automatic accompaniment by the arpeggio corresponding to the pattern and the pressed state is performed. When the output is instructed, the accompaniment data generation unit 50 shown in FIG. 2 sequentially outputs sounding data as shown on the right side of FIG. 5 at the output timing specified by the Timing data. Here, the sound generation data is MIDI note-on data, and its constituent elements are a gate indicating the tone length, a note indicating the pitch (note number), and a Vel indicating the velocity. Timing indicates the timing at which the pronunciation data is generated.
[0020]
As for Gate and Vel in the pronunciation data, the Gate and Vel at each timing included in the pronunciation pattern data are used as they are, but the Note is different from this. That is, a key number is assigned to the note number corresponding to the pressed key in order from the lowest sound, and the note number corresponding to the key number corresponding to the key number at each timing is subjected to octave correction in the pronunciation data. It is Note.
For example, when pattern 1 as shown in (a) is selected and keys C3, E3, and G3 are pressed, key numbers 1, 2, and 3 are assigned to these keys, respectively. In the sound generation data at timing 0000, the value of Note is C4 obtained by raising C3 of key number 1 by one octave. In the sound generation data at the timing 0240, the value of Note is G3 of key number 3. The key number allocation method is not limited to the above. If the number of keys pressed does not match the number of key numbers included in the pronunciation pattern data, the key numbers may be assigned to appropriate note numbers derived from the key pressing state.
[0021]
The sounding data for accompaniment is sequentially output in this way, but when the end of the sounding pattern data is reached, the sounding data is returned to the beginning and the same sounding data is output periodically while the key is pressed. Here, it is assumed that one beat is 480 clocks and one period is four beats. The broken line in the figure shows the position of the switching timing set as shown in FIG. 3. Since the pattern 1 is “2 beats”, the switching timing comes every 960 clocks corresponding to 2 beats. It will be.
Even when pattern 2 as shown in FIG. 5B is selected, a key number is assigned to each key pressed in the same manner, and sounding data corresponding to the key number is output at each timing. In this case, as in Timing 0000, a plurality of sound generation data may be output simultaneously at one timing. Further, since the switching timing for pattern 2 is “1 bar (4 beats)”, the switching timing comes every 1920 clocks corresponding to 4 beats.
[0022]
This synthesizer performs an automatic accompaniment by outputting an arpeggio based on the pronunciation data generated as described above. It is assumed that sound generation data corresponding to the selected arpeggio pattern and the key depression state is generated, and an instruction for switching the automatic accompaniment is accepted when this pattern is changed. In addition, when the next key is not pressed after the key is released, or when a performance end operation is performed, an instruction to stop (end) automatic accompaniment is accepted. Shall be.
[0023]
Next, processing related to automatic accompaniment switching control as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the user selects an arpeggio pattern and presses the key to instruct the output of the first arpeggio, the CPU 11 of this synthesizer executes a required control program and starts the process shown in FIG.
In this process, first, as an initial setting in steps S1 and S2, the timer is reset and the change flag is set to OFF.
In steps S3 and S4, when an arpeggio pattern switching operation is performed, the change flag is turned ON, and the information after the switching is stored for next output.
[0024]
Next, if the change flag is OFF and no arpeggio switching is instructed in step S5, the pronunciation is performed as described with reference to FIG. 4 using the valid arpeggio pattern and key pressing information in step S6. Generate and output data. If the performance ends in step S12, the process ends. The term “end of performance” means not only automatic accompaniment but also the end of the performance itself by a forced end operation such as power-off, reset, or performance interruption. In such a case, the automatic accompaniment is immediately terminated regardless of the switching timing. However, the reproduction may be ended up to the switching timing of the effective arpeggio pattern at that time.
If the performance is not finished in step S12 , the process proceeds to step S13 to accept the next operation, returns to step S1, and repeats the process. The operations received here include an arpeggio pattern switching operation and a key pressing change operation. With respect to the key pressing, a plurality of key pressings within a relatively short time are received as a plurality of simultaneous key pressings.
[0025]
On the other hand, if the change flag is ON in step S5, it is determined whether or not the switching timing has come in steps S7 and S8. If it is not the switching timing, the process proceeds to step S6 and the same processing as when no change is instructed is performed, but if it is the switching timing, the arpeggio pattern stored for the next output in steps S9 to S11 is valid. Then, the change flag is set to OFF, the timer is reset, the process proceeds to step S12, and the subsequent processing is performed.
It should be noted that the key pressing state is made effective immediately after receiving the key pressing change operation.
[0026]
In the above processing, in step S6, the CPU 11 functions as an output unit, and in step S13, the CPU 11 functions as an accepting unit.
By performing the above processing, when an arpeggio switching instruction is received, the switching is reflected in the output at a timing according to the switching timing information regarding the accompaniment pattern related to the sounding data being output. A new arpeggio can be output from the state.
Since the switching timing can be set for each arpeggio pattern, the accompaniment pattern can always be switched with a natural audibility if the timing is set so as not to impair the audibility even when switching for each pattern. Can be. When the accompaniment tone color is the same before and after the switching, this effect is particularly remarkable in such a case because the audibility is likely to be impaired if the switching timing is poor. On the other hand, patterns that do not impair the sense of hearing no matter where they are switched can be switched immediately after the switching operation, so that the switching operability deterioration can be minimized.
[0027]
In the process shown in FIG. 6, the generation of sound generation data, the reception of the operation, and the change of the arpeggio pattern and key press information are not necessarily performed in synchronization. It may be written in a register or the like, and the sound generation data generation and output processing may be separately performed with reference to this. This makes it easier to manage the timing of generating pronunciation data.
In addition, although an example in which the accompaniment pattern is an arpeggio pattern has been described here, when other accompaniment patterns are used, for example, accompaniment pattern data is stored, and the pitch is expressed in accordance with the depressed key. Of course, the same operation is possible even in the case of generating the converted pronunciation data.
Moreover, although the example which sets switching timing information for every kind of accompaniment pattern was demonstrated, you may make it set several accompaniment patterns to a group and for every group. Even in this case, the switching timing information for each accompaniment pattern can be acquired by referring to the setting for the group to which each accompaniment pattern belongs. In this way, setting is facilitated when there are a large number of accompaniment patterns. In particular, when there is a certain tendency in the appropriate switching timing for each timbre, the setting work load can be greatly reduced.
[0028]
In this example, the timer is reset when accompaniment (pattern type) is switched, and the accompaniment data after switching is output from the beginning of the accompaniment pattern. However, the timer is not reset and the position matches the switching timing. The output of accompaniment data after switching may be started. For example, when switching is performed at the end of the second beat, the accompaniment data after switching is output from the portion of the third beat. In this way, even when switching is performed in the middle of a pattern, the timing of automatic accompaniment can be prevented from being shifted.
Alternatively, the timer may be reset when a key press is changed during the output of the arpeggio, and the arpeggio according to the changed key press state may be output again from the time when the key is newly pressed.
Furthermore, here, an example has been described in which the change is not reflected in the output until the switching timing only when the accompaniment pattern is switched. However, this may also be applied when there is a key pressing change. In this case, in the process of FIG. 6, when there is a key press change between steps S3 and S5, a change flag is set to ON and the changed key press information is stored for next output. In step S9, the key pressing information may be validated.
[0029]
Furthermore, although the example which applied this invention to the synthesizer was demonstrated here, the automatic accompaniment production | generation apparatus comprised as a sound source device which receives remote control from other electronic keyboard instruments, such as an electronic piano, and external apparatuses, such as PC, or its control program It can also be applied to. In this case, it is not always necessary to accept an instruction for automatic accompaniment from the keyboard, and it can be accepted from various operators such as various buttons, switches, a PC keyboard and a mouse.
[0030]
Furthermore, a program for causing each unit including the CPU 11 of the automatic accompaniment generator described above to function as each unit described above is stored in advance in the ROM 12 or the like, and is also stored in a nonvolatile recording such as a CD-ROM or a flexible disk. The program is recorded on a medium (memory) and provided, and the CPU 11 is caused to read the program from the memory to the RAM 13 for execution, or the external device or the program including the recording medium on which the program is recorded is stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) or the like. The same effect can be obtained even when downloaded from an external device stored in the means and executed.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the automatic accompaniment generating device of the present invention, it is possible to always switch accompaniment patterns with a natural audibility, while minimizing the operability deterioration of switching for this purpose. Can be limited.
Also, according to the program of the present invention, the automatic accompaniment generator can be controlled by a computer to realize the characteristics of such an automatic accompaniment generator, and the same effect can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a synthesizer that is an embodiment of an automatic accompaniment generator of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of accompaniment data generation processing in the synthesizer shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a diagram illustrating an example of switching timing information stored in a switching timing information storage unit illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining automatic accompaniment switching control using the switching timing information;
5 is a diagram showing an example of sounding pattern data stored in the pattern data storage unit shown in FIG. 2 and accompaniment data generated by the accompaniment data generation unit based on it. FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing processing relating to automatic accompaniment switching control in the synthesizer shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 14 ... External storage device, 15 ... Communication I / F, 16 ... Input operation part, 17 ... Display part, 18 ... Sound source part, 19 ... System bus, 21 ... External device , 22 ... Display, 23 ... Sound system, 30 ... Pattern data storage unit, 40 ... Switching timing information storage unit, 50 ... Accompaniment data generation unit

Claims (3)

Storage means for storing a plurality of accompaniment patterns;
An accepting means for receiving at least an instruction for outputting an accompaniment pattern and an instruction for switching the automatic accompaniment to be output;
An automatic accompaniment generating apparatus provided with output means for generating and outputting accompaniment data based on the output instruction received by the receiving means and the accompaniment pattern,
The storage means has means for storing switching timing information corresponding to each accompaniment pattern,
Accompaniment data based on the accompaniment pattern until the timing according to the switching timing information corresponding to the accompaniment pattern related to the accompaniment data being output when the output means accepts the automatic accompaniment switching instruction outputs, automatic accompaniment generating apparatus characterized by comprising means for thereafter reflect its switching to generation of the accompaniment data. An automatic accompaniment generator according to claim 1,
An automatic accompaniment generator characterized by comprising means for receiving the setting of the switching timing information. Computer
Storage means for storing a plurality of accompaniment patterns;
An accepting means for receiving at least an instruction for outputting an accompaniment pattern and an instruction for switching the automatic accompaniment to be output;
A program for functioning as output means for generating and outputting accompaniment data based on the output instruction received by the receiving means and the accompaniment pattern;
The storage means has a function of storing switching timing information corresponding to each accompaniment pattern,
Accompaniment data based on the accompaniment pattern until the timing according to the switching timing information corresponding to the accompaniment pattern related to the accompaniment data being output when the output means accepts the automatic accompaniment switching instruction , And then has the function of reflecting the change in the generation of the accompaniment data.

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